item 1. The pin on the top is a solid rod between the 2 halves. The one in the middle mounts a small pulley. The left loop when pulled up releases the fingers shown on the lower right. I suspect it to be a release for dropping a hay hook into a load of loose hay, but do not know. Anybody have any ideas?

Item 2. I think is a saw set, but not sure, and it has been so long since I saw one I do not remember how it was used if that is what it is. The screw in the middle piece adjusts it up and down. Or at least it did at one time.

Item 3. appears to be a spacer designed for a specific purpose. the markings 4 and 5 are 4 and 5 inches respectively from the outer edge of the curled end. Considering the way the numbers were written it appears to have been designed to use in this position. We found several of them in different buildings.

I think you are right about item #1, Even though I have not seen one just like it. Looks like the rope feeds through the pulley and ties to the trip ring. I can't see exactly what releases it. A similar design can be used on a horse hitching rein. They are called "panic snaps", because they can be released while under pressure.

Item #2 is in fact a saw set. It is used to set the teeth on a crosscut saw. My g'father had one.

Item #3, don't have a clue.

We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give......Winston Churchill

BIGHOSS wrote:I think you are right about item #1, Even though I have not seen one just like it. Looks like the rope feeds through the pulley and ties to the trip ring. I can't see exactly what releases it.......

John *.?-!.* cub owner wrote:

The finger that's flat on the end latches under the springloaded trip eye which pops back into place when released. The flat finger fits in the notch between the two outside halves just above it. The catch is just visible in the notch.

I'm still skeptical about this being for loose hay handling. It's just to small and the space between the three fingers isn't very big to hold a rope or a metal ring, or something. The hole for the trip rope to tie into and if the trip rope does go around the pulley the rope would have to be about clothes line sized. The fact that it has three fingers puzzles me and leads me to believe that part is important to the function of this er.... ah.... doohickey. A simple J shaped piece would work to release any suspended load like a hay fork, so why the two extra fingers spread out to each side. Looks to me like for some type of alignment or to keep something straight.

v w wrote:This one was made by Atkins & Co of Indianapolis. Patent dates are May 5, 74, Jun 75, Aug 81 and Jan 88 Vern

I think I remember seeing something like Atkins on it. I'll have to look a little closer tomorrow.

John *.?-!.* cub owner wrote:item 1. The pin on the top is a solid rod between the 2 halves. The one in the middle mounts a small pulley. The left loop when pulled up releases the fingers shown on the lower right. I suspect it to be a release for dropping a hay hook into a load of loose hay, but do not know. Anybody have any ideas?

John I emailed you the whole page if you can make the file smaller, I have been pulling my hair out trying to get the one above posted and then reducing the whole page and I just don't have that much left to pull.

Bus Driver wrote:Would the rope slings be used for hoisting cargo with a crane? Ever see the loading of ships?

Up close and personal like. I spent four plus years on a Guided Missile Destroyer. Had the "privilege" of being involved in countless UNREPS. For those that don't speak military that stands for Underway Replenishment which is when the ship is out to sea and takes on fuel, food, mail, parts, people, etc. Think of it as driving a pickup down the interstate beside a tanker truck and running a hose over to fill your tank while you're moving. While you're doing this somebody is sitting on the tanker throwing your mail and this weeks groceries through your window and a helicopter is dropping a load of parts in the bed of your truck.

Actually come to think of it this thing is way smaller but does sorta resemble the trip that was used on the cargo nets slung under the helicopters. They'd bring three or four pallets and "very gently" place them on the fantail and release the nets. It was a mad dash from everybody available to run out, grab something and everything, and clear the flight deck for the next round. Which depending on how far they had to fly back to their ship to get the next load would be just a minute or two up to 15.

My dad had one of these hand operated blacksmith blowers and it took three men and a boy to turn it. Really neat ......

Nowadays i use the 200,000 btu rosebud to heat things up. On the older castiron or steel tapered hubs I would tickle them with the 200,000 btu of heat and when they came off they would sizzle in the snow for over an hour.

I'm technically misunderstood at times i guess its been this way my whole life so why should it change now.